One of the hardest things many of us have to face is the prospect of getting started. For many of us, procrastination is a very real hurdle to overcome.
No matter your idea, it can be hard to take that first step. However, if you want to take your business to the next level, or start a new project, you need to overcome some of the issues that are holding you back. Here are three things that might be keeping you from getting started:
1. Dreaming About the End Result
We’re all told that we need to visualize what we want to happen. Used properly visualization and dreaming can help you maintain motivation. Unfortunately, there are times when thinking about how nice it will be can be one of the things keeping you from getting started.
Thinking about your eventual success can lead to you feeling the good feelings of accomplishment right now. You can get caught up in the fantasy of your good work, rather than actually dealing with the hurdles that come anytime you are trying to make something work.
While you want to set goals and look to the future, you can’t let the dreams of success, and the fantasies of what could be, dominate your efforts today. Don’t get lost in a dream world that keeps you from facing the hard realities of today.
2. Perfectionism
One of the things my friend J.D. Roth from Money Boss has quoted in the past is, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” So many of us want a perfect product, or to present the right face to the world. However, something can always be better. You’ll never have it just perfect.
Whether you are waiting for the perfect time to do something, or whether you want to tweak your project just a little bit more, perfectionism might be keeping you from getting started. You don’t want to mess up, so you put off your project or your business.
The reality is that if you have a good idea, it doesn’t need to be perfect if you want to succeed. It can be good enough to get started. I know that I fear failure, so sometimes that means that I don’t go big enough, or that I make my moves quietly. Unfortunately, sometimes that fear keeps me from going for it as much as I could.
3. Busy Work
You might feel too busy, and that’s keeping you from getting started. But how much of that is real productivity, and how much is just busy work?
Many of us come up with excuses of being busy to put off doing something hard or making time for a new venture. Don’t let being busy keep you from accomplishing something awesome. Step back and consider how you use your time. You might be surprised to discover that you aren’t as busy as you think once you get rid of the unimportant stuff.
There are other things that might be keeping you from getting started. Don’t let them hold you back. Think about what might be your excuses and work actively to get rid of them and move forward.
